Breaking Sounds

Mannequin Men Record Release Party at Beat Kitchen

This Saturday at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago, don't miss another chance to catch on to the seriously psychotic sounds of one of Chicago's most promising bands of the 21st century, the Mannequin Men. The show is a release party of a split 7" EP on Do The Math Records with another interesting new Chicago combo simply called Shopping, and serves up two fresh slices of creatively dischordant and strenuously executed post-punk afterschool drool that stick in deep right off the bat. With critical acclaim building even outside of the Midwest for these restless rock'n rollers, it's no wonder that their self-released debut album, 'Showbiz Witch,' was even picked by CMJ (and New Bomb Turks frontman) editor, Eric Davidson as the number one indie album released in 2006. Strong-arming the prime pithy power and lost energy gleaned from pioneering off-centered acts like a The Wipers and The Clean, Mannequin Men are quick to move and seldom stay in the same groove, which more than makes up for their lack of repitition. Saturday's show is also a celebration of signing to local indie label, Flameshovel, who will be releasing Mannequin Men's second LP, entitled Fresh Rot, later this year following their upcoming 7" release on Criminal IQ, as well. As you can see from just those last two sentences, these boys aren't just letting the world pass them by, so be sure to grab a copy of everything they've got available, and immerse yourself in their spontaneous and insidiously assembled songs while you still can see them in an intimate setting. Don't forget to check them out on Chic-A-Go-Go on Sunday, too. And how did we catch wind of The Mannequin Men in the first place? Dan from Vee Dee turned us on back at the end of 2004, and since they've played quite a few shows together since then, they go together on stage quite well. Vee Dee are still working on their upcoming magnum opus, a double LP also on Criminal IQ with no set release date in sight, but surely featuring such hits from their live set as "Phaedra Illusion," "Cleveland Outer Space," and "Into The Void," which can be heard right HERE. Opening up the night is Karma With A K, who suffer from long band name syndrome, yet still have the potential to put forth some arresting songs that coincidentally don't tread too far off the path Mannequin Men have been forging for the past few years. Check them out HERE.

check out a video clip of Mannequin Men performing a cover of "Billy Two" by the Clean right here...